Locking device



Feb. 14, 1939. Q G, OLSON 2,147,210

LOCKING DEVICE Filed April 2, 1936 Jg .l/Gl. j/G, E

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Patented Feb. 14, 1939 PATENT' lorifice'.

nocxlNG nevica Carl G. Olsen, Chicago,

Tool Works, Chicago, linois lil.,anlgnortolilinnis Ill.,acorporationofll Application'April 2, 1938, Serial No. 12,293`

This invention relates generally to locking devices, and more particularly to locking devices for rotary clamping members, such as nuts, screw heads, andthe like.

Diiilculty has been experienced heretofore in the use of conventinal locking devices, such as lock washers, in association with nuts having clamping surfaces of relatively small radial width. Conventional lock washers-for example, the type provided with resilient radial locking teeth or prongs-are not particularly adapted for these narrow clamping surfaces. It is therefore an important object of this invention to overcome the above mentioned inconveniences and diiilculties by providing a locking device which per-y mits the entire clamping surface of a nut to function for its intended purpose, and also provides means for effectively securing said nut against retrograde movement.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a locking device which is particularly adapted to be used with hardened nuts or screw heads. To this end I propose to provide a locking device which on one side is adapted to grip the periphery of the nut or screw head, and on the opposite side is adapted to dig into the softer surface of the work against which the nut may be tightened.

More specically, my invention contemplates a locking device, as set forth above, wherein teeth adapted to embed themselveswithin the surface of the work are positioned wholly outside the periphery of the nut or screw head which is gripped to secure the parts against relative rotation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel combination with a locking device and screw head or nut, whereby to facilitate the handling of nuts and washers in the field.

The foregoing and numerous other objects and advantages will be more apparent from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a locking device embodying features of my invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view, taken substantially along the line 2-2 of AFigure l, of the locking device and clamping member or nut in operative association with a work surface;

Figure 3 is a slightly modified arrangement of the locking device shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 discloses the locking device of Fig- (Cl. ISI-48) ures 1 and 2 associatedy with a peripheraliy recessed nut," whereby `to prevent the projection of the locking prongs beyond the contines, of the larger periphery of the nut;

Figure 5 discloses the invention as applied to a locking device particularly adapted for a square nut or screwhead;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view of the device in lFigure 5 in operative association with a square nut. said view being taken substantially along the line 'l-i of Figure 5;

Figure 7 discloses-a locking device embodying my invention particularly adapted for hexagonal nuts and having locking prongs provided on all six sides;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a locking device slightly modied from that shown in Figure 7; and

Figure 9 discloses theA blank from which the locking device'of Figure 'I may be made, dotted lines indicating the manner in which the blank would be formed to produce the device shown in Figure 8.

Referring now to the drawing wherein I have employed like numerals to designate parts which are similar throughout the various views, it will be seen that one embodiment of my invention, as shown in Figures l and 2, includes a locking device designatedv generally by the numeral I0. 'This locking device'has an annular bearing or body portion I2 adapted to receive the clamping surface of a conventional clamping member such as the nut Il shown in Figure 2. The device i0 is particularly designed to accommodate a hexagonal clamping member or nut, and includes three upstanding wall or flange sections I6. 'Ihese sections I8 are formed by bending the stock at right angles to the plane of the bearing section I2. Formed integral with and extending from one extremity of each section I6 is a locking member or prong I8. Each prong is provided with a work engaging tooth 20, which normally projects below the under-surface of the bearing section i2. Additional wall or flange sections 22 are provided in the vicinity of the free extremities of the prongs I8.

The wall sections II are preferably flexed slightly inward so that, when the nut Il is inserted within the aperture .presented by these wall sections, the external or peripheral surfaces 24 of the nut complementary to the section I8 will be resiliently gripped thereby. In this manner the nut and locking device I0 present a combined unitary locking device. After the nut and locking device have been impositively secured together as a unit in the manner just described and are tightened as a unit against the surface ofa work piece 28 (Figure 2), the teeth 28 are caused to embed themselves within said work. In this connection it will be noted that, while the prongs I8 are in themselves substantially rigid, the ilange section I 8 complementary to each prong has a resilient hinge connection with the annular section I2. Thus, any tendency to force the teeth 28 upwardly is resisted by the resilient connection between the section I8 and the bearing section I2. This resistance is suilicient to cause the teeth 28 to embed themselves within the work 28. After the combined nut and locking device or washer have been tightened against the work, these resiliently connecting sections I8 serve to maintain the teeth 20 in their embedded or locking position. It will be noted that the prongs are so shaped that the teeth will afford less resistance to rotation when rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figures 1 and 2, than when rotated in a counterclockwise direction. Hence, any tendency to impart retrograde movement to the combined nut and washer from the position shown in Figure 2 will be vigorously resisted by the teeth 20 embedded within the work.

'I'he flange sections 22 embrace the side of the nut and thereby take up a portion of the load exerted by the sides 24 of the nut when the locking device I8 is tightened against the work piece. VThese sections 22 assist in preventing the lateral deflection of the prongs or spurs I8 during the tightening of the nut. To further eliminate the possibility of outward or lateral shifting of theprongs I8, I provide, as shown in Figure 3, flange sections 28 which are complementary to each prong, said sections 28 being connected directly with the bearing or base section, such as the section I2 of Figure 1. 'I'hese sections 28 serve to take up the forces which have a tendency to shift the prong I 8 outwardly when an unscrewing force is applied to the nut. 'I'he sections 28 are more rigid than either the prongs I8 or the sections I8 and are sufllcient to withstand the forces exerted by the nut surfaces 24.

In Figure 4 I have shown the manner in which the washer or locking device IIIi may be associated with a nut in such a manner as to retain the wall sections of the locking device within the peripheral connes of the main body of the nut. In

Figure 4 a nut I4a is provided with a peripheral recess 30. This enables the wall sections I6 and 28, as well as the prongs or spurs I8, to be retained inside of the peripheral confines of the sides 24a. The device of Figure 4 is more neat in appearance than that of Figure 2.

In Figures 5 and 6 I have shown a locking device designated generally by the numeral Ila, which is similar to the locking device I 8, but is particularly designed for a squareheaded nut or bolt head.. This device is provided with an annular bearing section I2a, resilient side sections or iianges ISa, and prongs or spurs I8a projecting from one end of each of the sections I6a. Each prong is formed with a work engaging tooth 28a.

In Figure 7 I have shown a locking device or washer I 0b, which is similar to the device III of Figures 1 and 2, except that prongs I8b are provided for each of the six sides of the nut I4, as distinguished from the three prongs I8 shown in Figure 1.

In Figure 8 I have shown still another modication Ille which is similar in many respects to the devices I0 and Ib. This locking device I8c is designed for use with hexagon nuts or bolt heads and like the device IIb is provided with locking prongs I8c for all six sides of the nut I4. The device I8c differs from the structure of Figure 7 only in the provision of extensions or sections 82 which overlap the prongs I8c. These sections 32 function similarly to the sections 28 shown in Figure 3 in resisting the tendency of the nut surfaces 24 to force the wall sections outwardly. In other words. these sections 82, like the Vsections 28, take up the load or force exerted by the nut surfaces 24, and thus prevent the complementary prongs I8c from being forced outwardly.

In Figure 9 a blank designed generally by the numeral 34 is shown, from which the locking device I8b may beformed. Dotted lines in Figure 9 indicate the manner in which the blank could be modified for making the washer shown in Figure 8.

From the foregoing, itwill be apparent that my invention contemplates the provision of a locking device, which is particularly adapted to be used with nuts or screw heads not adapted to receive the locking teeth of conventional lock washers. The invention has a very practical application to nuts or screw heads wherein the radial width of the clamping surfaces is not suilicient to permit the use of conventional lock washers, and also has a very practical application to nuts and screw heads which are hardened to such an extent as to preclude the use of conventional lock washers. The device may be made by practicing conventional machine shop methods, it being only necessary to first form a suitable blank from spring stock and subsequently bend or form sections of the blank so as to present the completed washer or locking device. In addition to providing a locking device having an effective resilient locking action, the invention also provides a very practical and novel combination of a clamping device and washer, namely, a nut and washer unit. These devices may be assembled at a point of manufacture and shipped to Ithe user for immediate application to the work. This is of particular advantage in high production industries such as the automotive industry where the time required for an operator to first select one part, then select the other part, and subsequently combine both of said parts to the work, introduces a factor which materially contributes to the ultimate cost to the consumer. 'I'he combined nut and washer arrangement described herein serves to materially reduce the time of assembly at the place where washers and nuts are applied. By having the elements such as the locking prongs positioned externally of the clamping or bearing surface, my device is rendered most practical for its intended purpose. Furthermore, the rigidity of the prongs in combination with the resiliency of the supporting elements or wall sections provides a very effective spring locking arrangement.

It will be clear from the foregoing description that the wall sections or flanges extending laterally from the apertured body portion or bearing section constitute coupling means for engaging the periphery of the rotary clamping member or nut. In other words, these wall sections or anges establish the driving coupling or connection between the rotary clamping member and the resiliently molmted locking teeth. The novel manner in which the locking teeth are resiliently supported at the periphery of the bearing section materially contributes toward the emcient functioning of the locking device.

It will be noted that the flanges or wall sections are slightly chamfered to facilitate application thereof to the clamping member or nut. The bottom edges of the nut might also be chamfered slightly, if desired.

Obviously the invention is not limited to the elements as specifically shown herein, but is capable of other modifications and changes limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A locking device for rotary members having a clamping surface, including an apertured body portion of spring stock adapted to provide a bearing section for and make plane contact with the clamping surface of said rotary member, coupling means extending from said bearing section for engaging the periphery of said rotary clamping member to rotate therewith in a tightening direction, and an external locking tooth resiliently supported by and projecting outside said bearing section at the periphery thereof and adapted to lockingly engage a Work piece in response to axial force exerted by the clamping member against said bearing section.

2. A locking device for rotary members having a clamping surface, including an apertured body portion of spring stock adapted to provide a bearing section for the clamping surface of said rotary member, coupling means including ange members extending from said bearing section for engaging the periphery of said rotary clamping member to rotate therewith in a tightening direction, and an external locking tooth resiliently supported by and projecting outside the periphery o f said bearing section and adapted to lockingly engage a work piece in response to axial force exerted by the clamping member against said bearing section.

Baging a work piece.

4. A locking device for rotary members having a clamping surface, including an apertured body portion of spring stock, coupling means extending from said body portion for engaging the periphery of a rotary clamping member to rotate in a tightening direction therewith, a resilient member supported by and extending in a given direction out of the plane of said body portion, and a work engaging tooth connected to said resilient member and projecting beyond said body portion in a direction angularly disposed to the direction of action of said resilient member.

5. A combined rotary clamping member and locking device including a rotary threaded member having a clamping surface, an apertured body portion of spring stock complementary to and engaging the clamping surface of said rotary member, means extending outside said body portion at the periphery thereof and coupled with the periphery of said rotary member, and an external tooth normally projecting beyond said body portion and adapted to lockingly engage a Work piece in response to rotation experienced by said clamping member.

6. A combined rotary clamping member and locking device including a rotary threaded member having a clamping surface, an apertured body portion of spring stock complementary to and engaging the clamping surface of said rotary member, coupling means including members extending from said body portion and frictionally gripping the periphery of said rotary member, and an external tooth normally projecting beyond said body portion at the periphery thereof and adapted to lockingly engage a work piece in response to rotation experienced by said clamping member.

7. A locking device for rotary members rhaving a clamping surface, including an apertured body portion of spring stock adapted to provide a bearing section for the clamping surface of said rotary member, coupling means including wall surfaces extending from said bearing section adapted to engagingly receive complementary peripheral surfaces of said rotary clamping member, andan external locking tooth resiliently supported by said bearing section at the periphery thereof and member against said bearing section.

CARL G. OLSON. 

